Walt Disney World held a preview of the arrival of Duffy the Disney Bear at Epcot today for annual passholders. Although we couldn’t be there to report on the event first-hand, Kristin Ford of the Orlando Sentinel’s A Mom and the Mouse tweeted some of the news that was announced at the event.

Cast Members at the Disneyland Resort had the opportunity to meet with Duffy the Disney Bear before he assumes his official meet and greet duties later this year. The photo, provided by a cast member, affirms that Duffy will be appearing in full sailor regalia as he often appears at Tokyo DisneySea. According to WDW Character Hunt, Duffy will begin his appearances October 14 in Epcot. Although the date of his debut in the Paradise Pier area at Disney California Adventure is promised to be revealed to Annual Passholders attending Duffy’s preview event this weekend, sources indicate to us that there’s a good chance he may start along with ElecTRONica on October 8.

Walt Disney Studios held a screening and press event for Tangled earlier today in Los Angeles according to tweets by LatinoReview.com’ George Roush (@elguapo1). We hear that in addition to appearances by the film’s stars Mandy Moore and Zachary Levi, the event was attended by John Lasseter and Alan Menken. Roush also tweeted out a photo that features the new meet & greet Rapunzel and Flynn Rider characters that will be making their Disney Parks debut beginning October 15.

Note that we do anticipate the meet and greet areas at both the Disneyland and Walt Disney World Resorts to embellish on Rapunzel’s hair which is significantly hidden in the photo.

On Sunday, September 19, Annual Passholders at the Disneyland Resort and their guests will have the opportunity to be among the first to hear about Duffy, his origins and his journey from Tokyo DisneySea to Disney California Adventure as well as the magical date that he will become available to meet and greet guests at the Disneyland Resort this fall.

There will be two sessions available, approximately 45 minutes long, with one at 11:30 am PT and one at 2 pm PT. The presentations will be held at Stage 17 at Disney California Adventure. Any type of recording device is explicitly prohibited from entering the venue. Cellphones will be allowed but they must be turned off and stored away.

Tarps have gone up in the areas at the morning meet and greet locations around the Sorcerer’s Hat at Disney’s Hollywood Studios according to cast member Paul Chadkin. According to Paul, the areas in question will be receiving all new backdrops including a large ‘film-strip’ background where the Snow White topiary once stood.

Today brings confirmation from DHS-specialist Studios Central who also adds that not only are the locations getting a makeover but the characters who meet and greet guests are getting one too. The site reports that the characters will be sporting all new duds inspired by the early Hollywood glamour: Goofy in a zootsuit, Minnie and Daisy in gowns, Donald in a fedora, Chip and Dale in ties and more.

In honor of the upcoming Pixie Hollow film Tinker Bell and the Great Fairy Rescue, Vidia has joined her friends at Pixie Hollow in the Magic Kingdom at Walt Disney World to greet guests who shrink down to size as they make the journey from the Mainland to Pixie Hollow.

For more information on the upcoming film including the trailer, film clips, stills, toys and more, follow this bookmark.

On its official blog, Disney Parks has shared some concept art for the upcoming meet & greet with Rapunzel and Flynn Rider at the Disneyland Resort. The art and blog entry reveal Disney’s plans on how to turn Rapunzel’s ~70 feet of hair into a reality.

Rapunzel and Flynn Rider will begin greeting guests on October 15 at both the Walt Disney World and Disneyland Resorts. At Walt Disney World, the duo can be found at the Magic Kingdom in the Fairytale Garden near Cinderella Castle, where Storytime with Belle currently takes place (that show ends September 12 in preparation of the transition). At Disneyland, Rapunzel and Flynn will be found at what is currently Gepetto’s Sweet Shoppe.

There’s 104 days of summer vacation, but Disney XD’s most popular duo just found a good way to spend one of them.

On July 10, Phineas, Ferb and Agent P will be on hand at the Disney Store Montebello to greet guests from 11:30 am – 3 pm. They’ll be trading off at the half-hour with Phineas and Ferb kicking it off at 11:30 and the bottom of each hour thereafter with Agent P beginning at 12 and appearing at the top of every hour following.

We’ve known for a while that Phineas and Ferb have existed as walkaround characters and have made occasional appearances at both the Disneyland and Walt Disney World Resorts, although they have not started meet & greets as of yet.

Thanks to this new video from Disney Consumer Products, we now get our first look at a Perry the Platypus walkaround character. Perry (as Agent P) and Phineas and Ferb were joined on stage by legendary Vegas entertainer Wayne Newtown who paid a special tribute to the secret agent. The special performance was part of Disney Consumer Product’s closing presentation at the 2010 Licensing International Expo.